In his second year as a starter, quarterback Brett Hundley is on track to best some of the impressive numbers he put up a year ago.

Check out his legs, for instance.

While he hasn’t matched his career-opening run of 72 yards, the redshirt sophomore has looked like a more decisive and consistent scrambler. A year ago, he had 19 runs of at least 10 yards. With two regular-season games left in 2013, he has already broken out 21.

Through 10 games, Hundley has carried the ball 120 times for 502 yards and seven scores, leading UCLA in each category. Behind star tailback Johnathan Franklin, the freshman version of Hundley only collected 355 on the ground.

He likened the adjustment to what he once made from junior varsity to varsity, saying that he has a better feel for opponents as well as his own abilities. With running backs Jordon James, Damien Thigpen and Steve Manfro recovering from their respective ankle injuries, Hundley has filled the void.

“Being able to run the ball, I can go north-south, I can go outside,” he said. “If I get the ball in my hands, I’m going to do something with it.”

Staying upright has helped his numbers. Hundley lost 347 rushing yards last season, due mostly to the 52 sacks he took — more than any other quarterback in the country. Only dragged down 23 times thus far, his losses have shrunk to 132 yards.

Freshman linebacker/running back Myles Jack may change the team standings soon. Through two games, he has rushed for 179 yards and five touchdowns, the latter number behind only Hundley’s seven.

“I mean, probably won’t be the rushing leader for long with him back there,” the quarterback said.

Getting hitched

Stan McKay had made big plans for his marriage proposal to girlfriend Chelcey Romeril. Then he realized his mistake.

“I thought Friday was going to be our Senior Day,” the senior safety said. “I was trying to do it on the field in front of the whole stadium. More pressure on her.”

Nevertheless, he went through the question, getting down on his knee at midfield following UCLA’s 41-31 win over Washington. Romeril had hinted at their future over the past few months, posting pictures of dresses and rings on Pinterest. When she said yes, the Bruins erupted.

“The team was stoked,” McKay said. “They wanted to have a huge part of it.”

The date isn’t set yet, but McKay said linebacker Isaiah Bowens will sing at the wedding.

Senior Night

UCLA’s Saturday tilt against Arizona State will be the Bruins’ last home game of the season, something Brandon Sermons hasn’t fully considered yet.

The senior defensive back has missed much of his UCLA career due to back surgery and a broken leg. The former four-star recruit isn’t a starter, but did have a career-high seven tackles against Washington last Friday.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet,” he said. “But as the season winds down, you start counting the games off and you’re like — man, all we have is two games? It went by fast. If you blink, you’ll miss it.”

End of the bell

Geoffrey Strand’s 38-year tenure as volunteer cheerleader ends this season. Long known for ringing a handheld bell and leading crowds at UCLA home games, his appearance at the Bruins’ home finale on Saturday will mark the end of his trademark “Every man, woman and child!” cheer.

The school will honor him at halftime, and present him with season tickets for life.

Jack Wang covers the Chargers, the latest NFL team to relocate to Los Angeles. He previously covered the Rams, and also spent four years on the UCLA beat, a strange period in which the Bruins' football program often outpaced their basketball team. He is a proud graduate of UC Berkeley, where he spent most of his time in The Daily Californian offices in Eshleman Hall — a building that did not become earthquake-safe until after his time on campus.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.